The factors involved in whether you should (or should not) self-publish

Why editors play such a vital role, and why even prize-winning authors need one

Tips on coping with rejection, and the inspirational success stories of writers who struggled for years

The habits that separate professional writers from the amateurs

Why you cannot trust some writers

Many of the tips are from the literary greats (Twain, Hemingway, Wilde, Lebowitz, and more) while others are from working writers and editors. Other subjects covered include creating controversy, overcoming writer’s block, writing history, writing humor, writing fiction, news writing, perseverance, success and failure, screenwriting, writing for television, what makes a bestseller, and writers’ attitudes toward money.

I thought the book would include some practical tips and ideas for writers. However, I found that it was a selection of quotes on various aspects of writing. While, I would have liked the title to be more specific, I found many of the quotes were really quite good and that the author has taken a lot of trouble to source them and arrange them under appropriate headings.

For example:

Under ‘Creating Controversy’ the book has this quote from Salman Rushdie:

“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” ~ Salman Rushdie

Under ‘Creativity’ the book includes a quote from Jonah Lehrer:

The reality of the creative process is that it often requires persistence, the ability to stare at a problem until it makes sense….

Under ‘Critics’ there’s a quote from Mark Twain:

The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all. Many wiser and better men than you pooh-poohed Shakespeare, even as late as two centuries ago; but still that old party has outlived those people.